IMD: Buhari urges men to always exhibit good virtues to ensure peaceful society

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with men, particularly in Nigeria, as the world celebrates another International Men’s Day (IMD, which thoughtfully places the spotlight on health issues, sacrifices, modelling and leadership roles.

In a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Friday in Abuja, Buhari urged Nigerian men to show good example in forthcoming elections by adhering to guidelines.

The president reiterated the pivotal role of men in ensuring a safe, peaceful and progressive environment, given their visible positions in families, governments, communities, and leadership in religious, traditional and political institutions.

While recognizing the strong, influential and significant position of women in building the nation over the years, with evidence in their rising profiles, the president specially urged men to be guided in protecting and promoting democracy in Nigeria.

He said this could be achieved by ensuring full participation in the forthcoming elections, 2023, adhering to regulations of the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and exploring redress in the courts.

On the theme of this year’s IMD, “Men Leading by Example”, Buhari called on men to take the front row in safeguarding and protecting national assets and shun acts of violence, like targeting of the offices and stores of the electoral body.

He noted that such misguided acts “only add to the cost of governance and projects the country as unstable.”

According to him, every citizen’s voice and vote matters in the choice of Nigeria’s leadership and governance, urging men in the country to provide the needed example of decency and decorum, and mobilize for the greater good of nation building.

The president commended the Local Organizing Committee of the IMD for setting an agenda for the 2023 elections and remaining faithful in sensitizing men to be more patriotic, responsive and inclusive in decision making, at home and in the public.